Tuesday 25 November 2008

Chocolate Christmas Cake ~ Sweet and Simple Bake!

It’s our monthly-round up again over at Sweet and Simple Bakes and this month I chose this Chocolate Christmas Cake, perfect in the run up to Christmas. This fruit cake offers a tasty alternative to the traditional Christmas Cake, it is dark, rich and moist and is always popular with chocoholics - the addition of the chocolate doesn't dominate but it gives the cake a lovely rich flavour. I decorated my cake with white fondant, gold edible stars, gold dragees, gold disco edible glitter and finally a gorgeous gold ribbon.




Chocolate Christmas Cake

Preparation time: 20 minutes + cooling
Cooking time: 1¾ -2 hours

Ingredients
150g (5oz) soft butter
150g (5oz) light muscovado sugar or soft brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
185g (6½oz) self-raising flour
40g (1½oz) cocoa powder
400g jar of luxury mincemeat
80g (3oz) each of sultanas and raisins
50g (2oz) blanched almonds, chopped
100g packet of white chocolate chips

For decoration (decorate as you wish!)

Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 3/electric 160ºC/fan oven 140ºC.
Line a 20cm (8inch) cake tin (see below for instructions).

Lining the cake tin: One of the keys to success when baking a fruit cake is the preparation of the tin before you start mixing the ingredients. Because of the length of cooking time, you need to use two sheets of greaseproof paper or baking parchment inside the tin.Lightly butter the inside of the tin.Cut out a strip of paper about 2.5cm (1inch) longer than the outside of the tin and 5 cm (2inches) wider. (Measure using a piece of string).Fold in about 2 cm (¾ inch) along the long edge of the strip. Then make diagonal cuts along the folded edge at 2.5 cm (1inch) intervals.Fit the long strip of paper inside the tin with the folded edge sitting flat on the base. If you have a square tin fit the paper tightly into the corners. Place the tin on two sheets of greaseproof paper of baking parchment and draw around the base of the tin. Cut two pieces of paper to fit snugly into the base of the tin. Before baking, tie some thick brown paper or newspaper, which comes above the tin by about 10cm (4inches), around the edge of the tin.

Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat together for a minute or two until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Spoon into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for 1¾-2 hours until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. You will probably need to cover the cake with foil towards the end of cooking to prevent the top from browning too much. Leave the cake to cool in the tin for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

20 comments:

Rosie said...

Your cake looks magnificent Maria. I adore all the decorations you have added to your cake. You'd think I had my nose pressed up at a baker’s window viewing this cake, so very professional!! Well done!!

Rosie x

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Beautiful cake. Didn't quite get around to it this month.

Unknown said...

wow..thats a lovely decoration..please do teach us simple decoration tips in SSB...it will be great..

Ivy said...

Beautiful cake. Sorry I missed it this month.

Finla said...

Beautiful cake. I think i should give a go fot this challange.

Reeni said...

What a gorgeous cake! I love the cocoa and white chocolate chips in this, how yummy.

Maria said...

I love the stars! What a great cake!

natalia said...

The cake is great as I said and now it has a photo ! Were you early or I late ? Sorry ! And Thank you for such a nice recipe !

Maggie said...

Stunning cake - so beautifully decorated.

Nickki said...

What a stunning cake Maria. I love the gold stars. Sorry I didn't get around to joining in this month, hopefully next time :)

Anne said...

You have made a beautiful cake, icing looks so good and pretty! x

Arundathi said...

wow - that is gorgeous! :-) thanks for a fantastic november bake, maria!

Sage said...

Loved the decoration, will have to take photo's of mine when cut... didn't think of that.

lilmizlynn said...

Firstly, your cake is stunning, Love the decoration.
Secondly, sorry that I had to miss taking part in this challenge.

Nic said...

Love the decoration, bet it tastes pretty brilliant too.

Amu... said...

Maria....Such a Beautiful Cake!!!...Could not take my eyes of it....Love the decorations...

Thanks a lot for that lovely comment on my cake...

Will look forward to nest months bake.off ...Luv...Amu :-)

Hayley said...

What a beautiful cake Maria! xxx

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this recipe... I googled 'alternatives to Christmas Cakes' and found you - cake's in the oven processing nicely!

Must add also that that was the best spoon licking experience my 5 year old ever had :) Me too, for that matter!

Fabbss said...

Hi Maria, it truly looks lovely!...Do you think I can prepare it is advance and then feed it during the rest of the month like with traditional xmas cakes?

Maria♥ said...

Hi Fabbs
I don't see why you couldn't but make sure you do feed it every week to keep it moist.

Maria
x